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☆ Air National Guard leaders say proposal to move units to Space Force poses 'existential threat' to US national security
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Thomas Novelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US Air National Guard rebuke a proposal to shift space mission units to the Space Force. "Our internal survey indicates about 70% of our personnel would retrain or retire rather than join the Space Force," Air Force Col. Michael Griesbaum, commander of the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing, told reporters Friday. Airmen from the Colorado Air National Guard load equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster before departing for temporary duty in Washington, DC. AdvertisementBut Air National Guard leaders have expressed concern, saying it would set a clear precedent for other services to potentially take more resources from the National Guard model. "If LP 480 is successful, it will open the door to a wholesale harvesting of National Guard resources, both from the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard to the regular components."

Persons: —, Michael Griesbaum, Chance Johnson, Military.com, Air Force Frank Kendall, Alex Wong, Frank Kendall, We've, Kendall, Griesbaum, Jason Carr, Robert Brown, Jacob Hancock Kendall, Michael Bruno Organizations: US Air National Guard, Space Force, Guardsmen, Service, Air National Guard, Hawaii Air National Guards, Air Force, Space Force Guardians, " Air Force, Alaska Air National, Airmen, Colorado Air National Guard, Tech, National Governors Association, United States Space Force, Rayburn House, Capitol, Getty Images Air Force, Army Guard, National Guard, Army National Guard, United States Space Command, Space Development, Air National Guardsmen, Air Force Staff, Colorado Air National, 233rd Space Group, Department of, National Guardsmen, Florida Air National Guard, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Guard, Brig, Colorado National Guard Locations: Alaska , Colorado, United States, Washington , DC, Niagara Falls , New York, Alaska , California , Colorado , Florida, Hawaii , New York, Ohio, Florida

☆ China is building a huge network of satellites that could be used against US troops: intel chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China has developed a large network of military satellites. AdvertisementChina has developed a network of hundreds of military satellites that could be used to target US troops, a Pentagon official warned. Maj. Gen. Greg Gagnon, deputy chief of space operations for intelligence, told a conference on Thursday that China had developed a sophisticated military satellite program. He said it could be used to track and target US troops moving to defend Taiwan, Defense One reported. "For the first time in decades, US leadership in space and space technology is being challenged," Meink added.

Persons: —, Greg Gagnon, Gagnon, we're, America —, Troy Meink, Space.com, Meink Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Defense, National Reconnaissance Office Locations: China, Taiwan, America, Colorado

☆ China's plan to be the dominant power in space is moving at breathtaking speed. The US needs to wake up, officials say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewAfter a meeting with Japanese and South Korean officials in Tokyo on Friday, US Space Force commander Gen. Stephen Whiting warned about a growing threat. China, he said, is "moving at breathtaking speed in space," and is developing a range of weapons that threaten America's space supremacy, reported Stars and Stripes. "For the first time in decades, US leadership in space and space technology is being challenged," Meink added. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations at United States Space Force, last year warned against taking US space supremacy for granted. Air Force Lieutenant General Gregory Guillot (L) and US Space Force Lieutenant General Stephen Whiting (R) on July 26, 2023.

Persons: —, Stephen Whiting, They're, Troy Meink, Space.com, Meink, Chance Saltzman, I'm, Saltzman, Whiting, Dominic Chiu, Gregory Guillot, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, Donald Trump, Chiu, Artemis, Frank Lucas, Anthony Mastalir, Graeme Thompson, Thompson, Tory Bruno, Arthur Herman, John F, Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, we've Organizations: Service, Korean, Space Force, Business, National Reconnaissance Office, Space Operations, United States Space Force, Eurasia Group, Air Force, US Space Force, House Science, Technology Committee, Brig, US Space Forces, Pentagon, United Launch Alliance, NBC News, Hudson Institute Locations: Tokyo, China, Colorado, Australia, Russia

☆ Xi shakes up China’s military in rethink of how to ‘fight and win’ future wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Chinese leader Xi Jinping oversees the inauguration of the Information Support Force of the People's Liberation Army at a ceremony in Beijing on April 19, 2024. The Information Support Force will be led by top generals from the now-defunct SSF. These functions will now be supervised at his level and not through the Strategic Support Force, which served as a middleman,” Wuthnow said. Though US intelligence officials said the balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, Xi may not have been aware of the mission. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has scrapped the People's Liberation Army's Strategic Support Force, a branch he founded in 2015.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, ”, Wu Qian, SSF, Bi Yi, Li Wei, Ju Qiansheng, Joel Wuthnow, ” Wuthnow, Joe Biden, didn’t, Xinhua News Agency James Char, Char Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Strategic Support Force, Support Force, PLA, China’s Defense, Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, Central Military Commission, Logistic Support Force, Information, Force, People's Liberation Army, Xinhua News, Information Support Force, Xinhua, Pentagon, National Defense University, Aerospace Systems Department, Network System Department, Xinhua News Agency, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, SSF’s Aerospace Systems Department, “, Communist Party, Taiwan Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Washington, United States, Singapore, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan

☆ Boeing’s Starliner set for historic astronaut launch after delays for years
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —After years of delays and a dizzying array of setbacks during test flights, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is finally set to make its inaugural crewed launch. “This is history in the making,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said of the upcoming Starliner mission during a March 22 news conference. Missteps riddled a Starliner test flight the prior year, leaving NASA and Boeing officials scrambling to figure out what went wrong. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has been flying routine trips ever since, carrying NASA astronauts and even paying customers and tourists. On May’s inaugural crewed flight, Boeing will instead use a “perfectly acceptable mitigation” that should prevent the valves from sticking, Nappi said in March.

Persons: CNN —, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, ”, Mark Nappi, “, we’ve, Ken Bowersox, SpaceX’s, Bill Nelson, “ We’re, Boeing’s Starliner, Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, Steve Stich, we’re, ” Nappi, Stich, Nappi, — Williams, Wilmore, —, ” Wilmore, Williams Organizations: CNN, NASA, International, Boeing, SpaceX, International Space, Alaska Airlines Locations: Florida, —, Starliner’s

☆ A NASA astronaut, former SpaceX flight surgeon, and father of 2 says parenting is by far his hardest job
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewAnil Menon is one of NASA's newest astronauts and former SpaceX flight surgeon, but none of that compares to, what he said, is his hardest job: being a dad. Anil and Anna Menon pose together in their respective NASA and SpaceX astronaut jumpsuits. But when both parents work in space flight, unique challenges arise like conflicting schedules and time management. Anil Menon uses the problem-solving skills he gained from astronaut training to help him juggle parenting challenges. During astronaut training, Anil spent two months away from home in Florida learning how to fly a T-6 aircraft for pilot training.

Persons: —, Anil Menon, Anna Menon, Anil, Anna, James Blair, we've, James, Grace, Anil Menon Anil Organizations: Service, SpaceX, Polaris, Business, NASA Locations: Houston, LA, Florida

☆ How to trade the market after this week's rally to record highs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Fed Chair Jerome Powell also noted that a strong labor market wouldn't deter the central bank from cutting rates. Fundstrat's Tom Lee told CNBC he expects the Russell 2000 to rally 50% . "I think the Russell 2000 represents sort of the best of things to happen when the Fed starts cutting." The small-cap Russell 2000 rose 1.6% this week. The iShares Russell 2000 ETF tracks that index.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Blair Boyer, Boyer, Goldman Sachs, Tom Lee, Russell, —, Lee Organizations: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Dow, CNBC, Nvidia, Microsoft, Devices, Visa, Blackwell, JPMorgan, NVIDIA, Fed, GE Vernova, New York Stock Exchange, GE Locations: Jennison

☆ General Electric's final spinoff is days away. It's not too late to profit from the move
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

GE stock has been on a tear, outperforming the market over the past year, as investors bet that the company's break-up will unlock still more value. Since the health-care spinoff, GE shares have risen above $170 from the $60s. He expects anyone buying GE Vernova shares in April will get "a 50% move over the next fourteen months." GE's aerospace business benefits from a dominant market position where it leads in both widebody and narrowbody jet engines. Still, GE Vernova was a weak spot for the company since 2015, according to analysts.

Persons: haven't, FactSet, Gordon Haskett, Don Bilson, GE's, Andrew Obin, Obin, I've, Tony Bancroft, Scott Deuschle, Deuschle, Bancroft, Larry Culp, Culp, GE Vernova, Michael Bloom Organizations: GE Vernova, New York Stock Exchange, GE, GE Healthcare Technologies, General Electric, GE Healthcare, Bank of America, GE Aerospace, Gabelli, Aerospace & Defense ETF, Deutsche Bank, Bank, America's

☆ 17 crucial upgrades helped SpaceX finally get Starship to space without exploding
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

SpaceX's third test launch of its Starship mega-rocket went off without a hitch. SpaceX has made a series of upgrades to the rocket system that helped it finally reach space. As for Starship, SpaceX added three new angled liquid oxygen vents to the underside of the engine skirt that likely helped with attitude control. AdvertisementWhile this was the most successful Starship test launch to date, it didn't achieve all mission objectives. AdvertisementSpaceX officials said the company plans to complete at least six more Starship test flights this year, subject to regulatory approval, Reuters reported.

Persons: —, we've, Siva, Jonathan Newton, cowbell, Starship, it's, Kate Tice Organizations: SpaceX, Service, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, Getty, FAA, Business, Super, NASA Spaceflight, SpaceX Quality Systems, Reuters Locations: Starbase, Boca Chica , Texas

These are among the reasons why there was alarm this week over reports that Russia may be pursuing nuclear weapons in space. So much of the country's infrastructure is now dependent on U.S. satellite communications — and those satellites have become increasingly vulnerable. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesTHE PAST: STARFISH PRIME AND PROJECT KBoth Russia and the U.S. have detonated nuclear warheads in space. The U.S. and the Soviet Union signed a nuclear test ban treaty a year later, in 1963, which prohibited further testing of nuclear weapons in space. The creation of the Space Force elevated spending on satellite systems and defenses.

Persons: Stephen Schwartz, Ariel, Hans Kristensen, ” Kristensen, John Kirby, John Ferrari, DeAnna Burt, Pat Ryder, Ferrari, ” Ferrari Organizations: WASHINGTON, Aviation, Russia, U.S, of Atomic Scientists, Starfish Prime, of Defense, Radio, Federation of American Scientists, Soviet Union, House, American Enterprise Institute, U.S . Space Force, NRO, National Reconnaissance Office, Pentagon, Space Force, Defense Department Locations: Russia, China, U.S, Hawaii, British, Ukraine

☆ Take a look inside the US' Manned Orbiting Laboratory, a Cold War-era crewed spy satellite that never made it to space
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Manned space operationsAn illustration of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory. Then-US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara publicly unveiled the program in December 1963, and President Lyndon B. Johnson formally approved the project in August 1965. "This program will bring us new knowledge about what man is able to do in space," Johnson said at the time. It will develop technology and equipment which will help advance manned and unmanned space flights. "The system was resource-limited because it was a film system, not electronic like we have now.

Persons: Robert McNamara, Lyndon B, Johnson, Richard Truly Organizations: Manned, Laboratory, US Air Force, National Reconnaissance Office, Cuban Missile, MOL Locations: Vietnam, America, Soviet Union

South Korea had no military reconnaissance satellites of its own in space and has partially resorted to the United States’ spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea. The North Korean satellite launch sparked immediate, strong condemnations from the U.S., South Korea and others. North Korea responded angrily, saying it has sovereign rights to launch spy satellites to cope with what it calls increasing U.S. hostilities. Since 2022, North Korea has conducted about 100 ballistic missile tests — part of efforts to modernize its arsenal of weapons targeting South Korea and the United States. South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers last week that Russia’s technological assistance likely enabled North Korea to place its spy satellite into orbit.

Persons: Sheryll Klinkel, Kim Jong Un, Hyung, Kim Organizations: VANDENBERG, North, California’s Vandenberg Space Force, SpaceX’s, SpaceX, South Korea’s Defense Ministry, South Korean, White, Pentagon, Korean, North Korean, United Nations, North Korea’s Defense Ministry, U.S . Space Command, U.S . Space Forces, Radio Free, Force, Associated Press Locations: South Korea, North Korea, United States, South, Korea, U.S, Radio Free Asia, North, “, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, Seoul

☆ Russia's huge Air Force is still mostly intact, but it hasn't been building the jets it needs to win on the ground in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After nearly two years of combat in Ukraine, Russia's air force is still largely intact. If Russia's air force can't perform that mission, Russian ground forces will continue to struggle. AdvertisementDespite its losses in the Ukraine, Russia's air force is still quite robust. What Russia doesn't have is the support aircraft needed to find and attack enemies on the ground. AdvertisementAs long as Ukraine's air defenses aren't suppressed, the Russian Air Force can't provide meaningful support to ground troops.

Persons: —, Cmdr, Matthew Galamison, Michael Petersen, Galamison, Petersen, Sukhoi Su, Mihail Tokmakov, Sefa, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, AP, NATO, US, US Naval War College, US Air Force's Air, Space Operations, Getty, Russian Air Force, EA, Kyiv, Russia's, Russian Army, REUTERS, British Defence Ministry, Anadolu Agency, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Kyiv City, Chernihiv, Forbes

☆ November’s full beaver moon will shine bright this weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —November’s full moon, known as the beaver moon, will shine bright in the night sky starting Sunday, offering a dazzling sight to behold. “The upcoming full Moon (the Beaver Moon) will look like the familiar full Moon, however the specific features are always a little different from one Moon to the next,” said Dr. Noah Petro, chief of NASA’s planetary geology, geophysics and geochemistry lab, in an email. For optimal moon gazing, Petro recommends finding a space with a clear view of the sky — away from trees, buildings and bright lights. More on the beaver moonThe beaver moon’s name is believed to be a nod to this full moon’s appearance when the industrious animal retires to its lodge in anticipation of winter. Remaining celestial events for 2023The final full moon of the year is the cold moon on December 26, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.

Persons: CNN —, “, ”, Noah Petro, libration, Petro, ” Petro, it’s, Artemis, Ursids Organizations: CNN, NASA, Farmers, American Meteor Society Locations: Earth’s

☆ China takes on Elon Musk's Starlink with hundreds of low-orbit satellites
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The 300 satellites will orbit at a much lower altitude than their competitors. AdvertisementA Chinese company plans to launch the first of 300 very low orbit satellites next month in a rival constellation to Elon Musk's Starlink network. China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp plans to put 192 satellites in orbit by 2027, with 300 by 2030, the outlet reported. But for now China remains far behind Elon Musk's Starlink constellation. It will be able to carry the new generation of larger Starlink satellites.

Persons: Elon Musk, —, Elon Musk's, Chance Saltzman, Elon, Musk, gIpnubscWa — Elon Organizations: Elon, Service, China Aerospace Science, Industry Corp, Bloomberg, SpaceX, Space Operations Locations: China

☆ Japanese scientists want to send a wooden satellite into space
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Murata wondered if he “could build a wooden house on the moon or Mars,” and decided to test the theory — by creating a wooden satellite. Wooden satellites would be better for the planet while still providing the same functionality as their metal counterparts, says Murata. Now, they are working with Japan’s space agency (JAXA) and NASA to send the prototype satellite, called LingoSat, into orbit early next year. Engineers at Kyoto University are building a wooden satellite that will be launched into space in a joint mission with JAXA and NASA. Finnish startup Arctic Astronautics designed the WISA Woodsat, a wooden satellite that was supposed to be launched into space in 2021.

Persons: that’s, Koji Murata, Murata, ”, It’s, Jari Mäkinen, ” Mäkinen, Yarjan Abdul Samad, Samad, Tatsuhito Fujita, Fujita Organizations: CNN, Kyoto University, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, “, JAXA, NASA, Murata, Engineers, Kyoto, NOAA, Astronautics, Khalifa University, United Arab Locations: Japan, East Asia, United Arab Emirates

☆ Investing in Space: How the Pentagon sizes up China’s military strength in space
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. Coming in at a whopping 212 pages, the document represents the latest in-depth, albeit unclassified, view of China's military ambitions. The Pentagon highlighted that the space capabilities of the Chinese military, or PLA, are continuing to "mature rapidly" thanks to "significant economic and political resources to growing all aspects of its space program." China's PLA has a "Strategic Support Force," or SSF, under which is the "Space Systems Department", or SSD, that leads its military space operations. The Pentagon emphasized that most of those Chinese satellites can "support monitoring, tracking, and targeting of U.S. and allied forces worldwide, especially throughout the Indo-Pacific region."

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, landers, it's, Richard DalBello, China isn't Organizations: Taiyuan Satellite, CNBC's, Pentagon, PLA, Force, Systems Department, U.S, China, GPS, NASA Locations: Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, United States, Xi's, China, Namibia, Pakistan, Argentina, Kenya, U.S, Baku

U.S. Chief of Space Operations Chance Saltzman speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Nobuhiro Kubo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The United States Space Force has had internal discussions about setting up a hotline with China to prevent crises in space, U.S. commander General Chance Saltzman told Reuters on Monday. The chief of space operations said a direct line of communication between the Space Force and its Chinese counterpart would be valuable in de-escalating tensions but that the U.S. had not yet engaged with China to establish one. Saltzman, who held talks with top Japanese defence officials in Tokyo on Monday, confirmed that the space force was exploring the potential establishment of a local headquarters in Japan. The U.S. Space Force, founded in 2019, also does not have a direct line of communication with its Russian counterpart.

Persons: Chance Saltzman, Nobuhiro Kubo, Saltzman, Joe Biden, Sakura Murakami, Philippa Fletcher, Toby Chopra Organizations: Chief, Space, Reuters, REUTERS, Nobuhiro, Rights, United States Space Force, Space Force, State Department, U.S . Space Force, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, U.S, Ukraine, Taiwan, South Korea

☆ Exclusive-U.S. Exploring Potential Space Force Hotline With China, U.S. Commander Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Sakura Murakami and Nobuhiro KuboTOKYO (Reuters) - The United States Space Force has had internal discussions about setting up a hotline with China to prevent crises in space, U.S. commander General Chance Saltzman told Reuters on Monday. The chief of space operations said a direct line of communication between the Space Force and its Chinese counterpart would be valuable in de-escalating tensions but that the U.S. had not yet engaged with China to establish one. The comments come as the U.S. Space Force looks into establishing a branch in Japan, as China's military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific unnverve its neighbours and the war in Ukraine spotlights the importance of space capabilities in warfare. Saltzman, who held talks with top Japanese defence officials in Tokyo on Monday, confirmed that the space force was exploring the potential establishment of a local headquarters in Japan. The U.S. Space Force, founded in 2019, also does not have a direct line of communication with its Russian counterpart.

Persons: Sakura Murakami, Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO, Chance Saltzman, Saltzman, Joe Biden, Nobuhiro Kubo, Philippa Fletcher, Toby Chopra Organizations: United States Space Force, Space Force, State Department, U.S . Space Force Locations: China, U.S, Japan, Ukraine, Taiwan, Tokyo, South Korea

☆ BAE snaps up Ball's aerospace arm for $5.6 billion in its biggest deal ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Yadarisa Shabong | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People gather at the BAE Systems' booth during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium & Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. March 28, 2023. Shares in BAE Systems fell as much as 4.9%, while Ball Corp rose 2.7% in premarket trading. "We see this deal as a good fit, although slightly expensive," Jefferies analysts led by Chloe Lemarie wrote in a note. He also confirmed the 1.5 billion pound ($1.91 billion) share repurchase announced with its half-year results. The Colorado-based aerospace business made $1.98 billion in revenue and accounted for 13% of Ball's consolidated net sales in 2022.

Persons: Cheney Orr, Tom Arseneault, Chloe Lemarie, Charles Woodburn, Yadarisa Shabong, Chandini, Susan Mathew, Subhranshu Sahu, Jason Neely, Sharon Singleton Organizations: BAE Systems, Association of, United States Army, Global, REUTERS, Ball Corp, Jefferies, Reuters, Blackstone Inc, Veritas Capital Fund Management, BAE, General Dynamics Corp, Textron, Shore Capital, Britain's, British, Thomson Locations: Huntsville , Alabama, U.S, Ukraine, Colorado, Bengaluru

☆ BAE snaps up Ball's aerospace arm for $5.6 bln in its biggest deal ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Yadarisa Shabong | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People gather at the BAE Systems' booth during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium & Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. March 28, 2023. The war in Ukraine has led to new demand for those in munitions supply chains, Tom Arseneault, head of BAE's U.S. business, told analysts. Shares in BAE Systems fell as much as 4.9%, while Ball Corp rose 2.7% in premarket trading. "We see this deal as a good fit, although slightly expensive," Jefferies analysts led by Chloe Lemarie wrote in a note. The Colorado-based aerospace business made $1.98 billion in revenue and accounted for 13% of Ball's consolidated net sales in 2022.

☆ BAE Systems snaps up Ball Corp's aerospace arm for about $5.55 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Yadarisa Shabong | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People gather at the BAE Systems' booth during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium & Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. March 28, 2023. Shares in BAE Systems were down 3% by 0730 GMT. "We see this deal as a good fit, although slightly expensive," Jefferies analysts led by Chloe Lemarie wrote in a note. The proposed deal would be treated as an asset purchase for federal tax purposes, BAE said. ($1 = 0.7856 pounds)Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Cheney Orr, Chloe Lemarie, Charles Woodburn, Morgan Stanley, Yadarisa, Subhranshu Sahu, Jason Neely Organizations: BAE Systems, Association of, United States Army, Global, REUTERS, Ball Corp, Jefferies, Reuters, Blackstone Inc, Veritas Capital Fund Management, BAE, General Dynamics Corp, Textron, Britain's, Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Huntsville , Alabama, U.S, Colorado, Bengaluru

☆ Lockheed gets US defense contract to develop nuclear-powered spacecraft
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 26 (Reuters) - Weapons maker Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) has been awarded a contract by a U.S. Department of Defense agency to develop a nuclear-powered spacecraft for the purposes of exploration and national defense, the company said on Wednesday. Lockheed Martin said the project is an advancement in propulsion technology – from chemical propulsion engines to nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) engines. "These more powerful and efficient nuclear thermal propulsion systems can provide faster transit times between destinations. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded the contract to Lockheed under a project called Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO). The in-space flight demonstration of a nuclear thermal rocket engine vehicle will take place no later than 2027, Lockheed said.

Persons: Lockheed Martin, Jeff Bezos, Kirk Shireman, Kannaki, Shailesh Organizations: Lockheed, U.S . Department of Defense, Origin, Elon, SpaceX, Lunar, Lockheed Martin Space, Research Projects Agency, DARPA, Agile Cislunar, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Virgin Galactic to launch second commercial space flight next month
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Virgin Galactic (SPCE) logo is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as the company begins public trading in New York, U.S., October 28, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid(Reuters) - Virgin Galactic Holdings said on Thursday that the space tourism startup will launch its second commercial flight in a window that opens next month after a successful first flight in June. The firm is among the few U.S.-based space companies, along with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to cater to the burgeoning demand for commercial space operations and space travel. Details on crew, pilots and the flight manifest for the mission set to launch in a window opening on Aug. 10, will be released later, the company said. Virgin Galactic had earlier said it has already booked a backlog of some 800 customers, charging most from $250,000 to $450,000 per seat, and envisions eventually building a large enough fleet to accommodate more than one flight a day.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, ’, Virgin Galactic Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Virgin Galactic Holdings, Origin, Elon, SpaceX, Virgin Locations: New York, U.S, British

NEW YORK, July 7 (Reuters) - Private equity firms Blackstone Inc (BX.N) and Veritas Capital Fund Management LLC are competing against large defense companies to acquire the aerospace business of Ball Corp (BALL.N), according to people familiar with the matter. The unit, which accounted for 13% of Ball's consolidated net sales in 2022, provides aerospace and national defense hardware, such as sensors and antennas. In June, Ball said it was considering options for its aerospace unit, after Reuters reported on the sale process. Blackstone owns Arka Group, an aerospace and defense technologies firm whose clients include the U.S. military, while Veritas owns companies including CAES Space Systems, which is a supplier of advanced electronic systems for aerospace and defense. Ball could incur a hefty tax bill of over $1 billion if the aerospace unit is sold for $5 billion or more, according to analysts at Jefferies.

Persons: Ball, Blackstone, David Carnevali, Mike Stone, Daniel Wallis Organizations: YORK, Blackstone Inc, Veritas Capital Fund Management, Ball Corp, BAE Systems, General Dynamics Corp, Textron Inc, Reuters, Blackstone, Veritas, Arka Group, U.S ., CAES, Systems, Bae Systems, Textron, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin Corp, Rocketdyne Holdings, L3Harris Technologies, Jefferies, Thomson Locations: New York, Washington

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